Preview: Pirates at Cubs

Reuters

Chicago has not been a factor in the NL playoff picture all season, but the Cubs have done their share to damage Pittsburghâs postseason hopes. The Pirates have dropped 12 of their past 15 games to fall three games out of the second NL wild-card spot, and five of those losses have come to Chicago. The Cubs have taken two of the first three in the four-game series at Wrigley Field and have won seven of their past nine overall.

After allowing 14 runs in a seven-game span, Chicago pitchers have surrendered 16 runs in the past two games. Travis Wood, who starts the series finale for the Cubs, has given up just one earned run in his past 13 2/3 innings. The Piratesâ pitching has collapsed under the strain of the playoff chase, ranking 29th in the majors in ERA (4.98) in September. Kevin Correia, who has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen, gets the start for Pittsburgh.

Correia went 7-1 in July and July, but like the rest of the Pirates he has struggled the past six weeks. Correia is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.00 in two September starts. He beat the Cubs back on July 25, and is 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA in two starts against Chicago this season. He has allowed just seven earned runs in his past six appearances (24 2/3 innings).

Wood has recovered from a 0-5 August to start September with two victories and a no-decision. One of those wins came at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, in which Wood allowed one hit in six innings. He followed up with 7 2/3 innings of four-hit, one-run ball Wednesday in a victory at Houston.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Pirates are 73-72 in their bid to finish with a winning record for the first time since 1992. Pittsburgh is 3-14 in September.

2. Wood is 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA against the Pirates this season. MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen is 1-for-10 lifetime against Wood.

3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo had three homers and 10 RBIs in his previous 23 games before Sunday. Rizzo homered twice and drove in six runs in Sundayâs 13-9 victory.